Oluwatosin EnesiIn a candid conversation on the ‘Work in Progress’ podcast with actress Sophia Bush, Obama shared her thoughts on life eight years after leaving the White House.
Obama reflected on the significance of finally being in control of her own time, a welcome change after years of living in the public eye.
She said,“I now have the opportunity to control my own calendar.
“I could have made a lot of these decisions years ago, but I didn’t give myself that freedom. Maybe even as much as I let my kids live their own lives, I use their lives as an excuse for why I couldn’t do something.”
Now with her daughters grown, Obama said she’s learning to make choices based on her own needs—not just what others expect of her.
“This year was a real big example of me, myself, looking at something that I was supposed to do—you know, without naming names—and I chose to do what was best for me, not what I had to do, not what I thought other people wanted me to do,” she explained.
Her visible absence from events like Donald Trump’s second inauguration and the state funeral of former President Jimmy Carter sparked speculation, including rumors of marital strain between her and former President Barack Obama.
Addressing that, she said, “That’s the thing that we as women, I think we struggle with—like disappointing people. I mean so much so that this year people were, you know—they couldn’t even fathom that I was making a choice for myself. They had to assume that my husband and I are divorcing.”
The couple, who have been married for 32 years, remain united. Barack Obama posted a heartfelt message on X (formerly Twitter) in October celebrating their relationship.
Michelle Obama has spoken openly in the past about the toll her husband’s political journey took on their marriage, writing in her memoir Becoming that his time in office often left her feeling lonely and exhausted.
Still, she emphasized that stepping back doesn’t mean stepping away completely.
She said, “I still find time to give speeches, to be out there in the world, to work on projects.
“I still care about girls’ education. The library is opening in a year from now. Certain things I am and am not doing with the library.”
She has continued to engage politically, including campaigning for Vice President Kamala Harris ahead of the 2024 election. Speaking in Michigan shortly before voting day, she urged voters not to be complacent.
“Please, please do not hand our fates over to the likes of Trump, who knows nothing about us, who has shown deep contempt for us.
“Because a vote for him is a vote against us, against our health, against our worth,” she said. This shift in focus marks a personal evolution for the former First Lady, who has dedicated her life to various initiatives and causes, including healthy families, service members and their families, higher education, and international adolescent girls’ education.
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